Mermaids of the Mighty Niagara swim into Youngstown

Sat, Aug 8th 2015 07:00 am

Don't
look now, but another festive party has come upon the horizon, joining an
already healthy calendar of northern Niagara happenings taking place this
summer.

The first
Mermaids of the Mighty Niagara takes over Youngstown's Main Street starting at
1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. It is presented by a new group in the village that
calls itself the Porter, Youngstown, Ransomville Business Association. Members
said the festival is a celebration of the area's fresh water resources and
beauty.

"The idea
was to find a fun way to celebrate the area's connection to one of the world's
great rivers - the mighty Niagara River," the PYRBA group commented.

All net
proceeds of this "Mermaid Party" will go to the Ransomville Food Pantry, which
serves the lower Niagara River Region.

The event
promises some unique water-themed fun for visitors along Main Street, which
will be closed to vehicular traffic from Lockport to Hinman streets that day.
Among the planned activities: a bed race starting at 1 p.m.; a pet parade; kids
costume contest; entertainment, including island music by DJ Mike Smith and
"Little Mermaid" songs by Teal's Niagara Theater; food and drink; a dunk tank
and pie-throwing contest (both for charity); a kids fish pond; street spraying
by members of the Youngstown and Ransomville volunteer fire companies, live
mermaids; and exhibits.

Organizers
report some of the volunteer "celebrity" targets signed on for the dunk tank
and pie-throwing events include Youngstown Mayor Raleigh Reynolds, village
trustees Stu Comerford and Tim Adamson, Wilson Supervisor Joe Jastrzemski, 2015
Polar Bear Queen Ashley Warren and Zach Collister of the Historical Association
of Lewiston.

Others
who have stepped forward as targets include: former Youngstown Mayor Norm
Swann, Code Enforcement Officer John Stevens, Peter "Butch" Johnson (father of
retired Dallas Cowboys fullback Darryl "Moose" Johnson), Sheila Tubinis of the
Youngstown Village Diner and local bar owners Pat Stack of Somewhere and Eddie
Wojick and Mike Costello of the Ontario House (The Jug).

Donations
for the dunk tank throws are $5 for three attempts. It's also $5 for two tries
in the pie throw.

Mermaids
of the Mighty Niagara is sponsored by PYRBA.org, the Village of Youngstown and
Rich Products. The dunk tank is provided courtesy of Tim and Lori Adamson.